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Ans Irfan speaking at an HDS event

Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Intersects with Public Health and Social Justice

November 17, 2023

As a trained physician, professor, and a social justice scholar, Ans Irfan (he/him, they/them) holds a commitment to health equity and religious literacy that is both personal and professional: “If my dignity—and the safety of the LGBTQIA+ community—is up for reelection every two to four years, depending on someone’s religious views, how is public health not talking more about the role religion plays in policymaking?” In this Q&A, Irfan defines the importance of centering those who have been marginalized and the urgent need for more religious literacy in policymaking.... Read more about Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Intersects with Public Health and Social Justice

Willie Francois smiling at the camera

Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Advances Liberation and Equality

November 17, 2023

Willie Dwayne Francois III is a minister, leader, and scholar dedicated to liberation. He is the senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church of Pleasantville, New Jersey; president of the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality; and associate professor of liberation theology at New York Theological Seminary. “Through my advocacy work, I’ve learned that the policies that liberate the most vulnerable benefit all of us,” he observes. The author of Silencing White Noise spoke with HDS about religion, racial justice, and the power of progressive faith communities.... Read more about Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Advances Liberation and Equality

Eloise Blondiau headshot

Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Informs Religious Literacy in the Media

November 17, 2023

Eloise Blondiau, MTS ’16, found her way to a career in journalism by way of her interests in both religion and lifelong learning. As a producer for the Peabody Award–winning show On the Media at New York Public Radio, Blondiau helps create stories—informed by religious literacy—to help listeners better understand the media. We sat down with Blondiau to learn more about how her HDS education informs her work.... Read more about Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Informs Religious Literacy in the Media

The Hemptons standing in a garden

In Honor of Serendipity, Ethics, and Empathy

November 17, 2023

David and Louanne Hempton reflect on their time at HDS

David and Louanne Hempton have graced Harvard Divinity School with their wisdom, their kindness, and their hospitality in the 11 years that they have lived on campus. With David leading as dean and Louanne offering her support to HDS in ways big and small, they have both left an indelible impression. In this interview, the Hemptons offer a look back at what brought them to Harvard, a look ahead as David prepares to return to his teaching and writing, and a look inward to share insights from their unique connection to the community.... Read more about In Honor of Serendipity, Ethics, and Empathy

Rajeev Persaud speaking at a microphone

A Hindu Priest on Finding His Path at Harvard Divinity School

November 17, 2023

Rajeev Persaud plans to go to law school but wanted to explore religious studies formally before pursuing a legal career. His faith has been the foundation for his life for as long as he can remember. As a practicing Hindu priest for the Guyanese community in the Greater Toronto area, he values the responsibility of performing sacred rituals, keeping the culture intact, and sharing traditions across generations.... Read more about A Hindu Priest on Finding His Path at Harvard Divinity School

Shariah Anderson standing outside or Swartz Hall

Biblical Scholarship and Kinship: An HDS Student’s Perspective

November 17, 2023

Shariah Anderson remembers being five years old when she “very consciously accepted Jesus Christ” into her life as an “ever-present friend.” As a child, she enjoyed learning more about Jesus with her family and through Scripture, where she saw Jesus as a loving safe haven. As she grew older, Anderson began taking note of how Jesus and religion were talked about in more public settings.... Read more about Biblical Scholarship and Kinship: An HDS Student’s Perspective

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